Pro bowlers in Ukiah to help Special Olympics

The target may be the 10 pins at the end of the lane, but the goal is to raise money for the Special Olympics of Mendocino County as the Professional Bowlers Association heads to Yokayo Bowl in Ukiah this weekend for a leg of its pro tour.

Special Olympics Area Director James Welch said it's the first time he knows of that the PBA has brought its tournament to Ukiah. Two-time regional champion John Gould, general manager of Ken Fowler Auto Center -- an event sponsor -- helped bring it about, according to Welch.

"(He) came to me and asked because he needed a non-profit to donate proceeds to, and I was mentioned, and the Special Olympics is an all-volunteer organization in this area," Welch said. "Bowling is the number-one sport for Special Olympics."

There are more than 15,000 Special Olympics bowlers in Northern California alone, he said, and 86 this year in Mendocino County. There are 136 athletes participating this year in local Special Olympics events, which also include basketball, bocce and softball, according to Welch.

The 38 professional bowlers coming to Ukiah for the tournament this weekend, along with players from local junior, adult and senior leagues, pay fees to play, including a $45 fee for juniors and a $60 fee for seniors. A portion of those proceeds goes to the Special Olympics of Mendocino County, along with half of the sponsor fees, according to Welch.

A 7 p.m. pro-am doubles tournament kicks off the weekend tonight at Yokayo Bowl, where two teams of two -- a professional and an amateur per team -- will bowl at each of Yokayo's 16 lanes.

The professionals bowl between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, followed by a practice session from 4 to 6 p.m. There will be 12 local Special Olympics bowlers competing in a pro-am tournament at 7 p.m. Saturday night.

Professional finals take place Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Among the professional bowlers coming to Ukiah is seven-time national champion Walter Ray Williams Jr., who "has a disabled sister, and when he saw this tournament on the schedule, and that it benefits the Special Olympics, called immediately to sign up," Welch said.

Welch said it will be a full house all weekend, and spectators are welcome, with autographs available throughout the weekend and signed bowling pins, among other items, offered as raffle and auction prizes. Practice sessions between 4 and 6 p.m. today and Saturday are good times to get autographs, he said, along with times following the nighttime pro-ams.

Welch, who coaches the Special Olympics athletes in all events, said there are 10 Wednesday practices for bowling, leading up to the Dec. 2 regional competition. Wednesday was the second of those 10 practices, he said.

Tiffany Revelle can be reached at udjtr@pacific.net, on Twitter @TiffanyRevelle or at 468-3523.